University of Freiburg

The University of Freiburg, officially called the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was founded in 1457, making it one of the older universities in Germany.

The university has 11 faculties and welcomes students from all over Germany and many other countries. Many famous thinkers and researchers have been connected to the University of Freiburg, including Hannah Arendt, Martin Heidegger, and Max Weber. The university has also been linked to Nobel Prize winners and winners of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, Germany's top research award.

History

The University of Freiburg, also called Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg, began in 1457. It started with four areas of study: theology, philosophy, medicine, and law. It was founded by the Habsburg dynasty and was the second university in their lands after the University of Vienna. The university was named after Archduke Albert VI of Austria, who gave it land, money, and its own legal system.

The university grew quickly and became known for its teaching. In the 1800s, it was saved from closing by Grand Duke Ludwig I. Over time, the university added new subjects and built more buildings. By 1900, it became the first German university to allow women to study. After World War II, the university grew even more and became part of efforts to build Germany’s social market economy. Today, it is known for its research and teaching in many subjects.

Campus

The University of Freiburg has grown with the city since the 1400s. Its buildings are in three main areas: near the old city center, an area for science buildings, and a campus for engineering. You can also find university buildings all around Freiburg.

The center near the old city has beautiful buildings like the Kollegien Gebäude I, built in 1911, and an old library. The current University Library is a big building from the 1970s. There is also a University Church, which was built in 1683 but was rebuilt after being damaged during World War II.

The science area has many buildings for studying physics, chemistry, and medicine. The engineering campus is close to a small airfield and includes a department for tiny machines and computer science. The University Medical Center is one of the biggest in Germany, with many beds and clinics.

In 2015, the university opened a new library in a modern building with places to work quietly or together, a cafe, and a nice outdoor space.

Students and admission

The University of Freiburg has about 21,600 students, including many from other countries. Getting in depends on the program you choose and is based on how well you did in school.

Students can choose from many different subjects to study. The school year has two parts, one starting in October and the other in April. Most students do not have to pay tuition, but there is a small fee each term.

Students enjoy many clubs and activities, including a news station run by students. There are also chances to explore the nearby forests and mountains. The university helps students find places to live.

Academic profile

The University of Freiburg is known for its quality. It gets funding to help researchers from around the world work together and share new ideas.

The university does well in contests and competitions. Its teams have succeeded in international events, such as the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot and the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition. One of its achievements was the development of golden rice, which can help people get important vitamins. The university also shares educational videos and audio through iTunes U. Its physics institute has helped in important discoveries, like the Higgs boson, at the Large Hadron Collider.

Organization and faculties

The University of Freiburg is Germany’s fifth-oldest university. It has many teachers and workers and is the biggest employer in the area. The university is led by a rector and has 11 different areas of study called faculties.

The university also has a special part called University College Freiburg. This college helps students from other countries study together. It offers a special program in many subjects. Students can choose to study things like life sciences, environmental sciences, culture, history, and more. The college also has special chairs for studying how we learn and understand science.

The university offers many programs for students who want to continue studying after their first degree. It also has special schools for advanced studying in different subjects. There are also programs where students can study with other universities in different countries.

Sustainability

The city of Freiburg is known for caring about the environment and using clean energy. The University of Freiburg does the same by working on projects to help the planet. They started a group called "Sustainable University of Freiburg" and made rules to protect the environment.

In 2007, the university began the Solar-Uni Freiburg project. They put solar panels on rooftops and created a special center for studying clean energy. This center works with many different subjects and offers a special study program for managing renewable energy. They also work with local businesses and other research groups, like the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, to learn and do more together.

University cooperation

The University of Freiburg works with many research places nearby in Freiburg. These partners often help teach at the university.

The university is part of groups with other universities in Europe, like the EUCOR federation with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, universities in Basel, Mulhouse, and Strasbourg. It is also a member of many international groups, such as the League of European Research Universities and the European University Association. The university has partnerships with schools on almost every continent around the world.

In 2001, the University of Freiburg started an international master’s program in social sciences called the Global Studies Programme. This program helps students learn about different cultures and regions. It combines subjects like sociology, political sciences, anthropology, and geography. Students in this program study in three different continents over two years. The program works with universities in South Africa, India, Argentina, and Thailand. Since 2008, there has also been a PhD program in Global Studies.

Notable alumni and professors

For a more comprehensive list, see List of University of Freiburg people.

The University of Freiburg has many famous graduates and teachers. Some well-known people who studied or worked there include Martin Heidegger, Edmund Husserl, Hannah Arendt, Paul Ehrlich, Hans Krebs, Hans Spemann, Ethel Dench Puffer Howes, and Friedrich Hayek.

Many teachers and researchers at the university have won important prizes, including Nobel Prizes and the Leibniz Prize.

• Konrad Adenauer

• Johann Eck

• Walter Eucken

• Harald zur Hausen

• Friedrich Hayek

• George de Hevesy

• Edmund Husserl

• Hans Krebs

• Herbert Marcuse

• Heinrich Rickert

• Rudolph Sohm

• Max Weber

• August Weismann

• Adolf Otto Reinhold Windaus